I know that some people will leave this article as soon as they read the headline, but I say this with good reason. As a person who believes that everything happens for a reason, by the Voters of Alabama nominating Judge Roy Moore to fill the SOLID Republican Alabama Senate Seat, we’re seeing something else happening for a reason. What could that reason be you ask? I believe the reason is to point out those, on BOTH sides of the political aisle, who are traitors to our Founding Principle of “innocent until PROVEN guilty”.
Let’s recap some of the history of this situation. Judge Roy Moore first won a Primary for the US Senate Seat that was left vacant by former Alabama Senator Jeff Session, who was selected by President Trump and confirmed as US Attorney General. He then won a Primary Run-off against the Senate GOP’s handpicked candidate, interim Sen. Luther Strange, even after Strange was endorsed by President Trump, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blew through more that $30 million in Republican National Senatorial Committee campaign cash supporting him. Moore won by almost double digits.
Then the crazy train rolled in to Alabama. All of the sudden it appeared as if Judge Moore, while in his early thirties, after returning from Graduating West Point, Serving in the Army in Vietnam and then Graduating Law School, either dated, and/or sexually molested surely half of the 14-18 year old girls in the State of Alabama? There has now been a stream of 50something women on the TV, or in the news, every day telling their “horror” stories of how ~40 years ago, this monster was preying upon all of them in their youthful innocence. Isn’t it interesting that in 30+ years in elective and appointed government offices, none of this has ever been mentioned before? Especially since he has run, at some time in his life, as a candidate for both majors parties, can you really believe that neither party’s “opposition research” ever found ANY of this? Well, until less than 6 weeks before a special election for a US Senate Seat?
Now that we have some basic context to work from, let’s get back to the real issue, “Is the basic principle of ‘innocent until PROVEN guilty’ dead?” (Sidebar: And in reality, in this case does it really matter to anyone outside of the Voters in the State of Alabama?) But do We The People still believe in this basic principle? Should other elected officials be publicly convicting a candidate on their “feelings” that the ACCUSATIONS appear to be credible? What level of evidentiary briefings have these Senators been provided to reach these conclusions of the guilt of the accused? I’m guessing none, except the “evidence” that has been presented in the media? And understand that these “gentlemen”, who have been lead prosecutors in the Court of Public Opinion, are members of the same exclusive club that the Alabama Voters could send the accused to join. And it appears the lead prosecutors are members of the same Party as the accused AND the President. But again, that’s beside the point.
“Innocent until PROVEN guilty”. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Sounds like a basic principle that you could build a polite and civil society on, doesn’t it? My concern is that our “leaders” are now ready to drive the final nail in to the coffin of “Innocent until PROVEN guilty” just because they are concerned about who the Voters of Alabama might elect to a US Senate Seat. To his credit, President Trump seems to realize the incredible gravity of this situation and is the only person, in a high elected office, who even mentions that Judge Moore denies having done anything inappropriate. I just hope that We The People think long and hard about how far down this slippery slope we have already allowed this “guilty by accusation” idea to slide. I hope the Voters of Alabama see it too. I guess we’ll see in two weeks?
God Bless America! And America, please Bless God again!
